Calling All Experienced Ears: amp vs. receiver question. . .

timothyj

I'll be using a denon 2803 with pre-amp outputs. My question is, if I add two amps to bi-amp my 800i's, will it make a significant improvement over the denon?

Please consider that right now I can only spend about $200-300 for the amp(s). Later I'll add amps for the center and possibly surrounds. I'm interested in quality stereo listening for mostly classical music. I could get something like two rotel 850's, or maybe some adcom 535's. Other suggestions welcome.

Rotel seems appealing to me because most owners attribute a "warm, smooth" quality to them. Classical music - especially with strings, reeds, and upper vocals can present large dynamic contrasts and instrumentation that often gets bright and ugly in my setup. Listener fatigue is quite real to me, and I'm constantly searching for a less forward and harsh upper-midrange and treble.

I have owned five receivers in the past two years: yamaha, kenwood, JVC - no thank you. Onkyo - so/so. All were too bright for my tastes. I'm quite pleased with the denon's sonic quality, but any improvement within my financial means will be welcome.

Thanks all, I'd really appreciate your input.

F1nut

I think the brightness you are experiencing is probably coming from your source. Try upgrading your cd player or adding a dac.

dcarlson

Have you ever thought of getting an integrated amp or seperates for 2 channel stereo?

I have a Denon 2802. My plan, once I can afford it, is to pick up an integrated amp. Most likely Musical Fidelity. I had the opportunity to do a direct comparison between a Denon 1803 and a Musical Fidelty A3 Integrated Amp. The integrated was amazing, more of everything. Bass, midrange, clarity, smoothness but none of it exagerated. The Denon was very nasal.

I went through a few receivers and the Denon was the most musical for my taste but there's still a lot of room for improvement.

Derick.

mantis

Try Rotel rsx1055 instead of adding amps.........

Ron-P

Tim, I started off with a Marantz SR5000. I recently added 4 Adcom 535's (3 bi-amp my mains and center, 4th runs the surrounds). I noticed a significant improvenent in sound quality, even though the Marantz was rated at 75 wpc and the 535's were 60wpc. Of course, the 535's were bench tested at 79wpc or so. It will be well worth the small amount of Franklins to go seperates instead of another receiver.


Peace Out~:D

timothyj

My source is a denon 380 w/ 20 bit burr-browns. I've tried several sources, the denon has been the best.

Rotel 1055 - just got the denon 2803 at less than dealer cost, my budget is 200-300. Not an option.

To be clear, movies and most music in my system sounds great. The brighness is only a problem with classical music. I realize that the recordings themselves can be to blame for some of this, but really want to know if a budget rotel or adcom for bi-amping will help.

Thanks, Ron. Do the adcoms work well with "brighter" instruments and classical music for extended periods of time? Thinking of my musical tastes, is it a good bet?

How about some opinions on rotel amps. . .

Ron-P

I listen to a lot of movie sound tracks in 2-channel and they sound gorgeous.


Peace Out~:D

danger boy

timothyj,

a month ago I found myself in the same position as you. I'm still trying to solve my problem with to much brightness in my system.

In the past three months... i added a 2 channel Adcom 125wpc amp. and monster biwire Z2 cables. the combanation of those things and my Marantz SR5000 recevier.. gave me to harsh of highs.

After a month of moving, tweaking and so forth.. a few of the guys in here recommended i add a external DAC (digital to analog converter) between the DVD/CD player and the receiver/amps. I'm still waiting for the DAC to arrive.. but this may just solve your problem. My music coming out of the DVD/CD player (Toshiba 4700) is way harsh.

good luck, but the problem may not be your receiver.. it may be your DVD/CD player.

Al

FYI, i use three Marantz mono block amp for my center, and surrouns. 125wpc each. plus the Adcom for the mains. In my case the Monster Z2 biwires are what brought the harsh brightness to the surface in my system. I think it's coming from the DVD player.

Tour2ma

tj,

IMO on a $200-300 budget, look for one quality, high curent amp with as much power as your bucks will buy. It's a better approach than buying two lesser amps just so you can bi-amp. Once you own the two lesser amps, where do you go with them? With one quality amp you can find it a mate down the road.

db,
What DAC are you getting?

VR3

I call Adcom. They are very smooth, sweet, and warm sounding amps. They really calm down those Tri-Lams!

dlew308

For a little over $300, you can find a 5ch HK PA5800 amp

STUFFMD

Nad C270 would be a good addition, I tested my 800's in the local shops for 2 channel and found dramatic difference in the quality and smoothness , even with my Kimbers attached, which are bright anyway....You can find a used 270 for $300 and under...all the reviews have been very favorible on this particular amp......Like you I find it hard to believe that 2 20bit Burr Browns with direct path are the problem.
My 2 Stuff

weavercr

I would go with the older adcoms, 535, 545. They have a strong Mid and a punchy bottom end, The highs will apear to be tamed down some.

Dr. Spec

Try a wiring change first.

I was using Lowe's 14 gauge for bi-wire and switched to Monster M1.4 and the highs and mids are a bit more laid back and natural sounding, and the sonic signature of orchestral string instruments changed significantly - goodbye sour, hello sweet and vibrant. Dynamic and transient characteristics improved significantly also, with crescendos no longer collapsing the sound stage as they once did.

Doc